SECRET #1: How To Guarantee Your Wedding Lives Up To Your Dreams.

Believe it or not, the wedding photographer you select to photograph your wedding can make or break your wedding day. Yes, I kid you not, your wedding day – not just your photographs! Why? Because he’s THERE – with you and your family, in person – interacting with all your family and guests – and representing you every minute.

Now, HONESTLY, we’re not just talking about wedding photography here – we’re talking about YOUR WEDDING – how YOU FEEL on your wedding day, and how smoothly and romantically everything goes. You see, your wedding photographer determines this, by the way he helps you plan your wedding, the way he treats you and your loved ones, and the way he conducts himself throughout the day.

Amazing Secret Revealed – What Other Wedding Photographers Don’t Want You To Know!

So here’s the secret: Meet the photographer – IN PERSON – before you hire anyone to photograph your wedding! Most brides don’t realize that many studios hire part time wedding photographers to photograph their weddings for them -a lot of the low end studios might hire high school and college kids, friends, relatives, etc. This means that you go to a studio, talk with a salesperson, look at their samples, and make a decision – without really knowing who will be photographing your wedding! And if it’s not just the right person doing the photography, and interacting with all your family and guests, everything can be ruined!

So, when you’re talking with a potential studio, ask them the following questions:

1. Who did these photographs you are showing me?

2. Who, by name, will be the wedding photographer of our wedding if we hire your studio?

3. We want to MEET this person, BEFORE we hire your studio.

Then, when you meet this person, ask him or her the following questions:

1. How will you dress at my wedding?

2. Did you do ALL the samples of wedding photography we saw in the sample books? If not, show us YOUR work, please.

3. How long have you been photographing weddings? Is it digital or film.

4. How long will you be at my wedding? Will the time be stipulated on the agreement.

5. Before you leave our wedding, who do you check with first to see if there’s anything else we would like you to do?

6. Do you work from a checklist of photos? (You NEVER want a photographer who needs a checklist doing your wedding photography! He’ll spend all his time looking at the list, and miss all the wonderful, romantic and spontaneous moments of your wedding!) Then, decide if you REALLY LIKE HIM, as well as his work! Because he’s going to be spending a lot of time with you and your family and friends, on your important day. Quite a few more details need to be cover and stipulated on written agreement / contract that either the studio representative or actual photographer will sign and the bride and groom.

SECRET #3: An Important Warning: Miss This Secret, And A Disaster Could Happen At Your Wedding!

This seems so obvious, and yet brides miss this one all the time, and pay a BIG PRICE for it after their wedding! Be sure the wedding photographer has happy brides and grooms, who have written him and told him how happy there were with both him, and his work! We’re talking TESTIMONIALS here! From real people, with their full names, and their city and state, so you can call them if you want to, just to “check them out” and make sure that they really said what the photographer says they said. (That’s a hard sentence to read, but you get the point! Sorry!) I’m sorry to be so skeptical, but we live in a time in history when you have to be really careful to be certain that people are telling you the truth.

SECRET #4: A Magic Way To Have A Great Wedding.

One of the things that you really want to look for in your wedding photographer, is someone who is an EMOTIONAL STORY TELLER! An artistic photographer whose images combine to tell the EMOTIONAL STORY of your family, your friends, and your wedding day. This is really important, if you are looking for photographs which will be PRICELESS to you for years and years to come! And here’s why this is so important! If an artist is an EMOTIONAL STORY TELLER, there’s a really good chance that he will be compassionate about not ruining the romance, beauty and emotions of your day. Just to be a good wedding photographer or an excellent photographer might not be enough. You see, only a true romantic can truly understand how important this day is to you, and how perfectly you want it to go. And a true romantic will be sensitive to NOT INTERFERING WITH THE EMOTIONAL ROMANTIC FLOW OF YOUR DAY!

It is also very important that the photographer knows how to anticipate capturing the emotions, reflections, and relationships between the Bride and Groom and relatives and friends. Usually, the photographer who is more involved in learning who from the families is coming to the wedding; learn their names and talks to the couple about the importance of all facets of the wedding from the getting ready photos, ceremony and reception.

SECRET #5: The Truth About Wedding Photographers Revealed. What They Don’t Want Me To Tell You!

It is not my intention to say anything bad about any other wedding photographers in the area. I know most of them personally, and count many of them as my friends. However, it is really important that I alert you to some of the problems that you otherwise would never know about.

Well, here’s a “biggie.”

Most wedding photographers will cram as many weddings into a day as they humanly can. Many times, this means they must rush from your wedding, to get to another, and then rush from that one, to get to another. This type of wedding photographer just isn’t going to be able to capture the EMOTIONS, ROMANCE, LOVE, AND RELATIONSHIPS between you and your husband and also between you and your family and friends. He’s just won’t have the sensitivity and enthusiasm and love for what he does to be able to capture those feelings. And he won’t have the time or energy. You will want the photographer to pay total attention to your event, to be there, to be unobtrusive but at the same time, as mentioned above, to know what is important and how to cover it.

This is one of the most ignored aspect of choosing a wedding photographer. You see, due to the digital revolution, it is easy for one to acquire and use a digital camera. However, that does not mean that owning a digital camera and knowing how to use it, makes one a professional photographer. Other than one has to know what photographing a wedding entails technical wise, a wedding photographer is the glue that puts all together. Thus, one and foremost aspect of the job is to be good with people. There are always time limitations and people challenges for a wedding photographer that has to deal with in a polite and professional manner and be able to cover completely the wedding photography to the utmost expectations of the marrying couple. This is so important! Be sure the photographer you hire has a “team” approach to taking good care of you on your day.

SECRET #6:

This means that he isn’t going to be trying to work alone to photograph your important day. You see, doing a really super, romantic, EMOTIONAL STORY of your day requires a huge amount of planning, care, and effort. More effort than just one person can do. We are a TEAM. A team that together, guarantees that you not only have a great time on your wedding day, but also assures you of having PERFECTLY EMOTIONAL photographs!

A HUGE POINT FOR BRIDES-TO-BE: The Magic Of “E.F.P” On Your Wedding Day!

You see, I don’t really look at it as “wedding photography,” but rather as “Emotional Family Photography created on your wedding day!” It’s all the emotions, relationships and personalities of all your friends and relatives, captured in beautiful images for you and your family to cherish for the rest of your lives. After all, isn’t that what you really want? Aren’t The People and The Emotions Of Your Life What Matter The Most To You? PEOPLE AND EMOTIONS of your wedding and life are so valuable to you, so that is why is so important for the photographer to capture the beautiful dresses and flowers and all the details of the wedding, like décor, and the whole ambiance of the reception and ceremony. You want your wedding photography to “tell the story” of your wedding day, AND your families and friends. How To Be Assured That You Will Be The Most Beautiful Bride Your Friends Or Relatives Have Ever Seen!

SECRET #7:

You deserve to have a wedding day where you are the most beautiful bride any of your friends or relatives have ever seen. That’s the dream of every girl when she begins visualizing her wedding day. And you deserve to have that! You will select the perfect dress, headpiece, veil, flowers, shoes, etc. Yes, you will have your hair and make up done. But it goes much deeper than that. You see, beauty is also in the way you FEEL on your wedding day. The way your emotions show on your face, and the way you glow when you walk down the aisle and look in the eyes of the love of your life.

Many of my brides will understand this when I say it: When you hire a photographer to photograph your wedding, you’re really paying them to be there. To take all the pressures and tensions out of the day for you. You know that your photographer truly cares about you, and will help you with EVERYTHING so the day goes perfectly. That’s really what our brides are paying us for. You see, if you, your husband (there’s that great word again!), and your family and guests are all having a wonderful time, you will be more beautiful than you have even dreamed you would be. Because there will be no tension there. And, by the way, your photographs will be WONDERFUL, too, because you looked so wonderful and were having such a great time.

Article submitted by Andreas Katsouris

Portrait, Wedding photography and video has been the passion of Andreas Katsouris for the last 22 years. As a professional photographer he has always improved on his technique with a new and refreshed approached throughout the years.

Digital revolution brought a lot of innovation in the capture and presentation of digital images, especially portrait and wedding photography.

Professional Wedding photographers continue to use the principles of how to photograph and use it effectively with any type of medium, digital or film.

You can view Andreas work at http://www.andreasportraits.com/photography.html

Choosing a wedding photographer to capture one of the most important days of your life can be confusing. Of course you want the best wedding photography available without paying an arm and a leg. You want a wedding photographer who will portray your wedding in the style you envision. You also want someone experienced, competent, and easy to work with as well as talented.

Partnering with the right photographer is easy when you know what to ask. Start by doing a quick phone interview of each wedding photographer to narrow down your choices. Find out first if they are available for your wedding day-if they’re not, it narrows things down immediately. Ask about prices, who will be photographing the wedding, what style of wedding photography they use to shoot weddings (black and white, color, posed photos or candid shots).

After you narrow down your wedding photographer choices, you’ll want to set up a date to interview the photographer. In some large companies, the photographer you talk to might not be the one they send out for your event. Make sure you interview the photographer who will actually be at your wedding and see his/her portfolio, in order to evaluate their style.

You’ll also want to find out what happens if the wedding photographer you choose is fired before or right after your wedding date. It will put your mind at rest if you are assured that your wedding will be photographed even if your photographer is no longer with the company and that you will also have access to your photos no matter what the hiring status of the photographer.

When interviewing the photographer, remember to cover these questions:

1) Experience Level.

On the most important day of your life, you want someone who is an expert at wedding photography to preserve your memories in a professional manner. Therefore, it’s very important to make sure you ask your wedding photographer questions about their experience.

Is this a job or a hobby for the wedding photographer?

Do they have formal training or education in wedding photography?

You might be tempted to save money by hiring a novice wedding photographer, but do you want stunning photos that capture your special day or just so-so ones?

Do they frequently photograph weddings?

Some photographers are better at static and posed studio photography than action oriented and “on location” wedding photography. Photographing a wedding involves capturing spontaneous moments, not just poses, so it’s important to have someone who is an expert.

Does the wedding photographer use professional-grade equipment, and do they have back-up equipment available, just in case?

Have they photographed weddings in your chosen location before?

Prior experience in a location gives the wedding photographer an advantage because he’ll know ahead of time what film, filters or flash he/she might need to get the best results.

2) Ask About Their Portfolio.

Photography is an art, so it’s understandable that you may or may not like the style used by the wedding photographer. Ask to view a portfolio of previous weddings they’ve photographed so that you can get a good impression as to what to expect for your own wedding. To make an educated decision, you’ll want to view an entire wedding portfolio from start to finish, not the best few photos from many weddings. Ask what style the wedding photographer uses. Some photographers tend to like more posed shots while others have what is called a photojournalistic style, which involves more candid shots.

Ask if he/she likes to use color photos, black and whites or a mixture. Also, ask if they use a digital camera and retouch the photos to make them black and white, or if they use film.

3) Will They Dress the Part?

Your wedding photographer will be spending a lot of time with you on you on the most important day of your life. It’s crucial that his or her personality blends in, making it a pleasure to have him/her at your side. If the wedding photographer makes you uneasy in a short interview then don’t hire them for your event! No matter how charming he is, you’ll want to make sure the wedding photographer will dress the part and look professional while taking those important photos.

Finally, ask about any assistants. Ask if you can meet them and ask about how they will dress and conduct themselves to ensure your wedding goes smoothly.

4) Money and Technical Matters.

Though you don’t want to skimp on wedding photos, it is important to make sure this particular photographer isn’t going to break your budget. Find out ahead of time about how much it will cost to have him/her photograph your wedding. You’ll want to know how much time you’ll be allotted, and how many rolls of film they’ll take during that time. If the wedding photographer uses digital cameras, ask how many shots they will take to ensure the event is well-documented.

Most photographers offer packages that specify a certain amount of pictures for a set fee. If you don’t see a size of photograph that you want, ask if those packages can be customized to meet your needs. It’s a great idea to inquire about the price of copies and albums, because you will likely become enchanted with many more of the photos than you bargained!

Ask about deposit and cancellation policies. In order to hold your date, what method of deposit is needed? What are the cancellation policies? If the wedding photographer cancels, will your deposit be refunded?

5) Ask If You Can Get It In Writing!

You’ll want a contract to protect you in case you’re unhappy with the services of your wedding photographer. If you end up going to court to settle matters, the judge will only be concerned with the conditions written in the contract. Therefore, it’s very important to make sure you get all of the details in writing.

The contact should include:

Expected services, fees, cancellation policy, fee schedule and all aspects of your photo packages written in detail.

You’ll also want their name and address, as well as your name and address on the contract. Make sure you both sign and date the contract, and that you get a copy of both sides.

Take the stress out of finding a wedding photographer by asking these 5 questions and choosing from the best wedding photographers you can find. Just do a search at Start Local, Australia’s fastest growing local search engine and business directory. Find your dream wedding photographer at => http://www.startlocal.com.au/services/photographers/

It is usually the brides who are heavily involved in planning their wedding. This is because women are more particular about planning and making sure everything goes according to plan. Planning a big event such as a wedding is never easy thus it can be a stressful time. However, it can be fun and exciting as well as the feeling of accomplishness after the event as you are involved in making the most important day of your life a successful event.

As mentioned, planning a wedding is not an easy task. They planners have to take into account two separate part and both is equally important. The first is the wedding ceremony and the second part is the wedding reception. Most couples would opt for having both the ceremony and reception at the same place so as to cut cost in terms of decoration and making it hassle free for all involved.

Wedding Ceremony Planning

The Venue and Time
Before anything else, the first thing you have to determine is the venue and then time. Wedding venues can be indoor or outdoor. It can also be in the city or out in the province. Having decided that it is going to be an indoor wedding, you’ll have to decide whether it will be in a hotel function room or a traditional church wedding. Similarly, an outdoor wedding will also need to choose your desired place like the beach or a garden. Where ever it is that you choose, you need to make sure that it is accessible to the guests. Then, decide on the time. Will your wedding be in the morning, afternoon or evening? When deciding on venue and time; you need to think about your guests. Will it be accessible to the majority of the quests you invited and will they be available to attend the wedding during the chosen time.

Venue Decorations
A wedding is incomplete without decors. No matter where you decide to have the wedding, you should dress the venue appropriately for a wedding. Flower arrangement is without a doubt is first priority. You can go for daisies, roses, calla lilies and tulips. It is also important for the flowers to look fresh and alive throughout the event. Fresh flowers are great but if you have constraint in budget, go for silk flowers instead. Aisle runner is also great as it will add style to your walk down the aisle. If you plan to keep it simple, you should not forget the wedding arch as not only is it significant in your union as a couple, it is also great for the wedding photos later. Having the wedding in a church, there might not be much you can do for the chairs or church pews but you can enhance their look by decorating them with ribbons, tulle and bows.

Wedding Ceremony Accessories
Wedding unity candles, ring pillow, guest book and flower girl basket are examples of wedding accessories. Wedding unity candles are a must among some couples. However, there are couples who do not wish to have the lighting of candles as part of their ceremony. There is a significant meaning behind this tradition and it actually signifies the couples giving light to each other’s lives as well as the beginning of a life shared together. This wedding accessory can be personalized according to the theme of the wedding.

Visitors and Invitations
A wedding is incomplete without the guests. In order to ensure the success of your wedding event, your guest must leave the wedding feeling happy and satisfied. To ensure that your guests are happy, you need to prepare food that will make your guests happy as well as enough in portion. You wouldn’t want your guest to leave feeling hungry would you? Decide on the number of people attending your wedding and once you’ve got the number, plan carefully. Soon after that, you should also be sending out your wedding invitations which has been decorated and designed to suit your wedding theme.

Wedding Reception Planning
The wedding ceremony will be followed by the reception. This is the time when your guests and you get to enjoy yourself and celebrate the wedding. You must give your guest the experience that they will cherish and remember for a long time. It should be a time that you provide your guest the comfort of mingling around and chat with other guests.

Food and Drinks
Great food will keep your guest happy and satisfied. Discuss thoroughly with your caterer on the kind of food suitable for your wedding theme. You might also want to do food testing before you hire the caterer. Drinks served during the event should also be enough to last to the end and make sure you have both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Just as well, you should also have vegetarian food to cater for your vegetarian guests should you have any.

Music
What kind of music suits a wedding? Well, there is no universal music for wedding but with that said, make a point to keep your entire guest happy with different choices of music. You and your partner might love Jazz but think of your other guests. They might prefer pop or rock. So don’t bore your guests during this big event!

Wedding Cake
The wedding cake will be the center of attention. Impress your guest with something out of the ordinary. Go for monogram cake topper rather than the traditional porcelain figurines. You can also have your initials on top of the cake by using acrylic.

These are just some of the wedding details you have to pay attention to. There’s more but don’t fret. Take your time and just enjoy the planning because everything will be all right.

Melissa Cruz is a leading wedding planner who specializes in areas such as wedding decorations, wedding favors, theme weddings, bridal accessories, wedding invitations, just to name a few. Her works are regularly featured on various publications pertaining to wedding matters.